engine swapping in ca Options

[Stallion]

ok... so i wanted to do the 3sgte swap. i have a 94 gt hatchback. from what i understand reading the other threads it just drops right in.

just found out though cause i live in nazi germany, i mean california thats an illegal engine. what the hell.

so can anyone recommend a legal engine swap for me living out here? preferably a factory installed turbo engine? i wanna upgrade intake as well, short ram or cold air depending on the engine. i just want like 3 hundred horses... ya know.

[j0e_p3t]

the easiest way to legally get 300 hp is to buy a faster car. but if you still want your celi and legal, the only way i know is a v6 swap. only other option is to pay off the smog guy every 2 years.

[Stallion]

hmm v6 is just gonna be so damn heavy... i think im just gonna keep my engine. keep things simple. get an intake system and small time performance boosters. if im gonna go all out id like to do it in a rear wheel drive car

[j0e_p3t]

i hear the 1mz/3mz is actually lighter than a 3s. intake will only give you >5hp and still illegal except for injen.

[Dr_Tweak]

ok... so i wanted to do the 3sgte swap. i have a 94 gt hatchback. from what i understand reading the other threads it just drops right in.

just found out though cause i live in nazi germany, i mean california thats an illegal engine. what the hell.

so can anyone recommend a legal engine swap for me living out here? preferably a factory installed turbo engine? i wanna upgrade intake as well, short ram or cold air depending on the engine. i just want like 3 hundred horses... ya know.

You just need to get a USDM 3SGTE that has EGR and you'll be fine Get one from an MR2 Turbo sold in CA.

-Doc

[Stallion]

whats the 1mz/3mz? i also didnt wanna blow my fuel economy out of the water. if i can manage to keep it over 23mpg i think i can be happy

[j0e_p3t]

1mzfe = 3.0 l v6
3mzfe = 3.3 l v6
i'm pretty sure you get decent gas mileage since they're toyota fe engines. both have been done before so you can look them up or ask the guys who have it.

[Stallion]

just looked up info on the 3mzfe... not a bad idea at all. in fact thatd be pretty damn bitchin. ill talk to my uncle bout it and see how much we can find one of those engines for

[6strngs]

I looked into this too when I blew the engine in my 6gc. I also live in california, so I'm in the same predicament. I figured the oly way to do it would be to get a USDM engine block from 94-95 MR2, a USDM head from any 90-95 mr2 or alltrac, and USDM itake manifold, throttle body, and EGR system from any 90-95 mr2 or alltrac, also a USDM ECU. Then everything else could be JDM or USDM. Then take it to a smog referee, and tell him it's an engine swap from a 94-95 MR2 (whichever year your block was from). He won't have anyway to know the rest of the stuff wasn't from a 94-95 since it isn't stamped like the block is. Then, he'll check it out to make sure you still have all the smog equipment on there that the car orignally came equipped with, and then he'll give you a sticker to put in your door jamb. You now have a street legal 3sgte. I figured the total cost would be about $3500-5000 to gather all the parts to complete the swap.

Option B is, buy a JDM front clip from a 90-93 alltrac for like $2200 or so. and get a USDM head, intake manifold, throttle body and EGR system for ~$500. Then take it to the referee and tell him it's from a 94 MR2. Then cross your fingers that he doesn't check the numbers on the block, which apparently they rarely do. If he doesn't check, it'll be legal. if he does, you'll need to find one, quick... total cost for this would be about $2500-4000.

I decided it wasn't worth it to me, so I went and bought an alltrac for $2500. now I not only have a street legal 3sgte, but AWD

[Stallion]

im jealous... i want awd...

ahh... yeah i paid 2000 for my 94. i just dont know if i should bother anymore. i want to cause i love my car... i just think im gonna need something better to dump all that money into

[mbell75]

Yea man, you should just sell it. If you want a 300 hp car, I have no clue why you bought a Celica in the first place. Go look for a 5.0 Stang and you'll have it up to 300 hp for ALOT less money. Or just find a 4th gen F body with an LT1 or LS1 and be done with it.

[6strngs]

Yea man, you should just sell it. If you want a 300 hp car, I have no clue why you bought a Celica in the first place. Go look for a 5.0 Stang and you'll have it up to 300 hp for ALOT less money. Or just find a 4th gen F body with an LT1 or LS1 and be done with it.

cause gas is too expensive to buy a V8! besides, everyone and their mom has a 300hp mustang. Now, my 5sfte celica brought in so much attention whenever I popped the hood. and it was a nice feeling. even though the car looked like poop, people still would form small crowds around my car to look into the engine bay. And it didn't really get any police attention either... in fact, I never once got a ticket in that car. That's the cool part about doing an engine swap or something crazy like that opposed to buying a car that's already fast. but it comes at a cost, so it's really up to you.

[mbell75]

Yea man, you should just sell it. If you want a 300 hp car, I have no clue why you bought a Celica in the first place. Go look for a 5.0 Stang and you'll have it up to 300 hp for ALOT less money. Or just find a 4th gen F body with an LT1 or LS1 and be done with it.

cause gas is too expensive to buy a V8! besides, everyone and their mom has a 300hp mustang. Now, my 5sfte celica brought in so much attention whenever I popped the hood. and it was a nice feeling. even though the car looked like poop, people still would form small crowds around my car to look into the engine bay. And it didn't really get any police attention either... in fact, I never once got a ticket in that car. That's the cool part about doing an engine swap or something crazy like that opposed to buying a car that's already fast. but it comes at a cost, so it's really up to you.

Depends on what you are looking for. Someone saying they want a 300hp car sounds like they want something to drag in and the Celica is a very poor choice. Could probably buy TWO Mustangs for what it would cost to build a 300hp Celica. The labor alone would run well into the thousands let alone all the parts. You are right about gas, thats why I sold my 98 Mustang GT I had built with 360 hp to the wheels. Tired of $100 fill ups and 14 mpg. But I also saw members in the FI section saying they were getting really bad gas mileage, like 17 mpg after their turbo additions. Might as well have a V8 if thats the case.

I think most people get a Celica because its fun to drive, handles well, good on gas and looks nice. I want more power out of my 94 ST, but no way I expect 300. I'd be happy with a 4AGZE swap. So I was just saying there are better and more cost effective ways to go about getting a 300 hp car.

This post has been edited by mbell75: Jul 28, 2008 - 3:07 AM